Heskey double leaves Leeds off the pace

EMILE HESKEY revived Liverpool's title hopes at Elland Road today with two goals that effectively killed off David O'Leary's dreams of championship glory this season.

Heskey is a striker back in form having scored three goals in his last two matches after previously finding the net just once in 34 games, a miserable run which had placed his World Cup chances with England in jeopardy.

But Heskey can now expect to be on the plane to Japan after breathing new life into Liverpool as he followed up Wednesday's winner against Leicester with a stunning brace in the space of just three minutes against Leeds.

Liverpool's third successive league victory leaves Phil Thompson's side two points off leaders Manchester United, who are now nine clear of a rapidly disappearing Leeds who suffered their worst home defeat for 22 months.

O'Leary's side are also six points adrift of their season-long target of a top four finish and with it Champions League football next season following a dismal run of one point from their last four matches - all against their fellow title rivals.

When it has come down to the crunch Leeds have been found wanting, although O'Leary will point to the fact his side have been hit by injuries and suspensions.

Leeds have suffered considerably over the past few weeks, yet O'Leary - continuing to sport two black eyes following his recent nose surgery - surely never expected the first of today's wounds to be self inflicted.

O'Leary always knew the games against championship contenders Newcastle, Arsenal, Chelsea, and culminating in today's clash with Liverpool, would severely test his team's resolve, and what has followed clearly suggests Leeds have failed.

After just 16 minutes former Liverpool star Dominic Matteo's touchline challenge on Heskey led to Danny Murphy whipping in a swirling free-kick which United skipper Rio Ferdinand inadvertently steered past the helpless Nigel Martyn.

It was the start of a bad day for O'Leary, who at one point was involved in a bust-up with a fan during the first half, telling the supporter in no uncertain terms to 'go home' and eventually having to be pulled away by assistant Brian Kidd.

But all the hype before kick-off had been about Robbie Fowler facing the club he was remarkably allowed to leave just two months ago, with the fee of £11million an even greater surprise.

But Fowler, who spent 15 years with the Merseyside giants and who scored 171 goals in 330 appearances, barely saw the ball never mind the whites of Jerzy Dudek's eyes during the entire 90 minutes.

Reds captain Sami Hyypia and Stephane Henchoz ensured he was tamed, and instead it was Heskey who emerged the hero after the hour for what had preceded his two goals suggested these two sides were fighting against relegation rather than for the title.

The bad luck which has seemingly blighted Leeds struck again in the 61st minute for when Heskey received Steven Gerrard's slide-rule through ball he was at least a yard offside.

It ensured he had the measure of Matteo and when Martyn halted his charge it was all the invitation Heskey needed to round his fellow England international, although his finish from an acute angle was exquisite.

Just two minutes later Liverpool were home and dry as Heskey superbly hooked the ball home on the volley from six yards after Leeds had failed to clear their lines after Stephen Wright had flicked on a corner from former United target John Arne Riise.

With the game lost, Leeds then mounted a brief rally, but Dudek brilliantly saved from Mark Viduka's flick header and then Fowler, who must have been amazed to see the Poland international in the way of a point-blank half-volley.

Liverpool's joy and Leeds' misery was complete on 90 minutes when Owen was first to his own rebound after an initial header had struck the crossbar.